Aaron Schaffer

The killing code: strange symbols in a WA settler’s diaries lay bare frontier atrocities Exclusive: Stories of murders passed down by Yamatji elders are confirmed by a cipher hidden in the 1850s journals of prominent pastoralist Major Logue. Now descendants on both sides want to break the...

“The British were watching this, going, ‘You can’t kill the blackfellas, they’re British citizens, you can’t just shoot them.’ So the [settlers] learned how to leave it out completely. Just hide it from history." A must-read this... www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

William Webster, who led FBI and CIA through crises, dies at 101 He was credited with restoring trust to the two sullied agencies after the domestic-spying and Iran-contra scandals of the 1970s and ‘80s.

William Webster, who led FBI and CIA through crises, dies at 101 www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

Incredible bsky.app/profile/robi...

“A source close to the company said it does not reveal this kind of detail about its products, but indicated it is seen internally as a sandwich.”

The former private prison exec behind ICE’s immigrant detention surge David Venturella, a veteran of private prison firm Geo Group, joined the Trump administration to help oversee an expansion of the immigrant detention system that’s benefiting his former employer.

David Venturella, a veteran of private prison firm Geo Group, joined the Trump administration to help oversee an expansion of the immigrant detention system that’s benefiting his former employer. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Email from Burial’s Bandcamp:
"Hi -
A new single from Burial, out for Bandcamp Friday
The Vinyl version is a limited clear vinyl version exclusive to Hyperdub's Bandcamp and Website.
Take a Listen…..
Thanks"

Comafields / Imaginary Festival, by Burial 2 track album

🚨 NEW BURIAL SINGLE, THIS IS NOT A DRILL burial.bandcamp.com/album/comafi...

U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers

As of 8:25 PM EDT July 29, 2025: Please visit tsunami.gov for the latest updates on expanding watches, warnings and advisories across the Pacific and western U.S.

…and couldn’t fit this in because of character limits: “Red alert for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread.”

“Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible…Estimated economic losses are 0-2% GDP of Russia. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response.”

This is a VERY large earthquake, possibly/probably among the 10 largest ever recorded. A clear subduction zone megathrust event. And it is another M>8.5 event with a notable foreshock (the recent M7.4 in same location), like Tohoku in 2011.

Hegseth Signal messages came from email classified ‘SECRET,’ watchdog told The revelation contradicts the Trump administration’s long-standing claims that no classified information was shared by the defense secretary’s account during the “Signalgate” scandal.

The Pentagon’s independent watchdog has received evidence that messages from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Signal account previewing a U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen derived from a classified email labeled “SECRET/NOFORN” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

In India’s deportation drive, Muslim men recount being tossed into the sea India’s recent deportation drive targeting its Muslim minority was marked by home demolitions, arbitrary detentions, allegations of torture and a lack of due process.

Wow this story www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

It's hard to think of a more gracious, collaborative, and decent colleague than @ellenwapo.bsky.social, who is one of the greats. We're very lucky to have her.

Statement from Executive Editor Matt Murray: "For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security. Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press statements regarding matters of public interest is neither nefarious nor is it harassment. It is basic journalism. DNI Gabbard's unfounded personal attack reflects a fundamental misunderstanding about the role of journalists to report on government officials and hold power to account, without fear or favor and regardless of party. The Post remains committed to that vital and constitutionally protected work."

Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray today issued this statement on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's unfounded personal attack on my colleague Ellen Nakashima:

CBS owner Paramount agrees to settle Trump lawsuit for $16 million The money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to him directly, according to the agreement. Paramount will not apologize as part of the settlement.

"Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump during last year’s presidential campaign — a decision that is likely to spur both internal and external backlash." www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/...

Intercepted call of Iranian officials downplays damage of U.S. attack The officials were heard saying Trump’s strike on Iran proved less devastating than expected. The administration calls the intelligence insignificant.

"The United States obtained intercepted communication between senior Iranian officials discussing this month’s military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program and remarking that the attack was less devastating than they had expected" www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Hacker helped kill FBI sources, witnesses in El Chapo case, according to watchdog report A cartel affiliate notified an FBI agent about a hacker who infiltrated cameras and phones to track an FBI official’s meetings, the DOJ inspector general said.

Hacker helped kill FBI sources, witnesses in El Chapo case, according to watchdog report cyberscoop.com/hacker-helpe...

days like this where i miss @joseph-marks.bsky.social
and @timstarks.bsky.social and the Cyber 202 😭

This comes from a new DOJ inspector general report on FBI "Efforts to Mitigate the Effects of Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance." Hasn't been covered anywhere as far as I can tell... oig.justice.gov/sites/defaul...

A screenshot that says the following: "(U) In 2018, while the FBI was working on the "El Chapo" drug cartel case, an individual connected to the cartel contacted an FBI case agent. This individual said that the cartel had hired a "hacker" who offered a menu of services related to exploiting mobile phones and other electronic devices. According to the individual, the hacker had observed people going in and out of the United States Embassy in Mexico City and identified "people of interest" for the cartel, including the FBI Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT), and then was able to use the ALAT's mobile phone number to obtain calls made and received, as well as geolocation data, associated with the ALAT's phone. According to the FBI, the hacker also used Mexico City's camera system to follow the ALAT through the city and identify people the ALAT met with. According to the case agent, the cartel used that information to intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses."

...WHAT!!! maybe the craziest cyber story i've read this month...

The former Assad aide told the FBI he tried unsuccessfully to dissuade Assad. But whether Hassan actually tried to push back is doubtful, said a person familiar with the matter. Still, the portion about Assad ordering Tice’s killing appeared “credible," the person said. wapo.st/4jUdbyx

Former Syrian official claims Assad gave order to kill Austin Tice in 2013 U.S. officials are investigating an uncorroborated, but “credible,” account from a high-ranking former Syrian official that American freelance journalist Austin Tice was executed in 2013.

NEW: Former Syrian official claims Assad gave order to kill Austin Tice in 2013. U.S. officials are investigating the uncorroborated, but “credible,” account from a high-ranking former Syrian official and adviser to ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Trump’s border czar earned consulting fees from immigrant detention firm Tom Homan, a top ICE official, earned an undisclosed amount from a division of the GEO Group, one of two companies that operates the majority of the nation’s immigrant detention facilities.

Homan abides by “the highest ethical standards” and gave up “successful private career” to be in govt, WH spox said. They also cited statement saying Homan to recuse “from any involvement, discussion, input, or decision of any future government contracts that may be awarded.” wapo.st/4jrr9Yv

Trump’s border czar earned consulting fees from immigrant detention firm Tom Homan, a top ICE official, earned an undisclosed amount from a division of the GEO Group, one of two companies that operates the majority of the nation’s immigrant detention facilities.

The part of the disclosure listing the work covers the two calendar years before Homan entered govt in Jan. It says Homan consulted for GEO Care, a GEO division including rehabilitation services for people in detention facilities and electronic monitoring of people who were released. wapo.st/4jrr9Yv

Trump’s border czar earned consulting fees from immigrant detention firm Tom Homan, a top ICE official, earned an undisclosed amount from a division of the GEO Group, one of two companies that operates the majority of the nation’s immigrant detention facilities.

Border czar Tom Homan earned at least $5,000 in fees consulting for a division of the GEO Group, one of two companies that operates the vast majority of the nation’s immigrant detention facilities, per a financial disclosure obtained by The Post. wapo.st/4jrr9Yv

It's official: the ballots have been counted and we have officially been recognized as the Washington Post Tech Guild by the NLRB! In a 171-38 BLOWOUT vote, we voiced loudly that our union is important to us. That's 81%!

Supreme Court deadlocks, blocking creation of first religious public school With only eight justices voting, the 4-4 tie leaves in place an Oklahoma State Supreme Court ruling that the school violates the separation of church and state.

Breaking news: The Supreme Court deadlocked over the constitutionality of the nation’s first public religious charter school, blocking the creation of the controversial Catholic online academy in Oklahoma.

Trump says he will replace D.C. U.S. attorney pick Ed Martin President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will replace interim U.S. attorney Ed Martin, his embattled nominee to serve as the top prosecutor for D.C.,

Trump says he will replace D.C. U.S. attorney pick Ed Martin www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

Reporters’ phone records could again be searched, Justice Dept. says Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland barred U.S. prosecutors in 2022 from seeking court orders for reporters’ phone and email records in leak investigations.

WaPo Executive Editor: “The First Amendment is central to our democracy and an enshrined constitutional right for all Americans. Any government effort to subpoena reporters and their records threatens those constitutional rights for the independent press.” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...